Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced that a leading group from University of Los Angeles (UCLA), demonstrate that Piclidenoson showed efficacy in an experimental model of vascular dementia.

The study headed by Dr.  S. Thomas Carmichael, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair Frances Stark Chair, Department of Neurology, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, utilized  a vascular dementia mouse model with focal ischemia replicating many elements of the complex pathophysiology of human vascular dementia. Piclidenoson was found to restore tissue integrity and behavioral function in this vascular dementia model.

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, and caused by impaired blood flow to the brain, often due to stroke or chronic small vessel disease. There are no U.S. FDA approved therapies for this condition. Drugs that are used off-label, including donepezil or memantine, are used symptomatically or to address co-morbidities. Additionally, antihypertensives, antiplatelets, and statins are used to prevent further vascular damage, but none of these medications are disease-modifying. Nevertheless, due to an aging population and increasing diagnosis, the global market for Vascular Dementia is estimated at $6 billion as of 2025, with an expected CAGR of 5% through 2035.

“A first-in-class agent such as Piclidenoson that could provide neuroprotection and improve vascular health would fill a significant unmet need and likely capture a large share of the growing Vascular Dementia market.,” stated Pnina Fishman, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Can-Fite BioPharma.

Piclidenoson is a highly selective A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist, which has shown a compelling safety profile in hundreds of patients with Psoriasis and demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical studies.